Continuous yarn dyeing machine

ABSTRACT

This disclosure relates to an apparatus and method of dyeing yarn in a continuous manner. More specifically, the disclosure is directed to the continuous dyeing of bulk yarn in a random fashion with substantially no pattern repeats and means also being provided for retaining the bulk in the dyed yarn during the continuous process.

United States Patent 11 1 7 YARN 1111 3,800,565 Worth et a], I ,Apr. 2,197 4 CONTINUOUS YARN DYEING MACHINE 3,434,189 3/1969 Buck et al 283,447,215 6/1969 Tillotson 28/75 [75] Inventors: Daniel L. W orth,Chattanooga, 2,367,730 1945 MaslandZD Term; Phllllp Elland, Readmg,2,415,379 2/1947 Vieira ..8/149 3 2,487,197 11/1949 Sum et a1 73 A I N YI 10/1951 Epstein ..69/203 1 sslgnee Company ew or 2,577,846 12/1951Feild Y 2,785,042 3/1957 Qaj ec 1g et a l. [22} Filed: Aug. 31, 19723,019,507 2/1962 Maragliano et a 3,051,541 8/1962 Clapp 1 1 pp N91285,409 3,069,218 12/1962 Hermes Related U.S. Application Data 3 1:;a??? 8 55 [63] Continuation of- Set. N0. 49,064, June 23, 1970, f 'l'f'iabmdmd' I FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 52 U.S. Cl... 68/5 1),68/19.1, 68/203 724,544 "/1965 Canada 51 Int. Cl. D06c 1/00 I [58] Fieldof Search. 68/5 1), 5 E, 203,191, Primary Pnce 1" 3 204; 8/1493, 1 51249 5 Attorney, Agent, or Firm--Marsha1l J. Breen; Chester 2 g A.Williams, Jr.; Julian Falk [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS[57] ABSTRACT 3 095 2 1964 Guthrie et a1 57/157 This disclosure relatesto an apparatus and method of 3,137,989 6/1964 Fioretal. 57 dyeing yamin a Continuous manner- Mo p 3',137,0'56 6 1964 McClure er 1, 28/75cally, the disclosure is directed to the continuous dye- T227137"!H1956" rar'rereiaii11; T161717? ing of bulk yarn in a random fashionwith substantially 3,293,675 1966 Willis 149-1 no pattern repeats'andmeans also being provided for 3,330,132 retaining the bulk in the dyedyarn during the continu- 3,299,485 1 1967 111118 et al 28/75 Ous process8 3,304,862 2/1967 Lawrence et a1. 101/172 p 3,418,065 12/1968 Blount,Jr. 8/55 8 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures 1 32 RANDOM 148 B4 PATTERNGENERATOR 1 'gEYE 31800 11 96' as m I00 :18 82 94 I T-+PREDRYER '55 e as50 52 V W (I SCRAMBLER WITNESS= PATENTEUAPR 2mm 3.800.565

- INVENTORS Daniel L. Worth BY PhillipE Eilond Fig. 6A A EAL M ATTORNEYCONTINUOUS YARN DYEING MACHINE This is a continuation of US. Pat.application Ser. No. 49,064 filedJune 23, 1970, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE-INVENTION It is highly desirable in the formation ofsome types of fabrics, such as carpets and the like, to provide a colorpatterned effect which is random in nature. Fabrics of this typepreferably have a multicolor effect with no visible pattern. It'is knownin the art to dye yarns prior to fabric formation, such as by tufting,with the dye being applied by various means such as by rollers or drums.It is preferred that several colors be applied at spaced intervals onthe yarn so that when the yarn is present in the finished fabric, thecolors will appear on the face thereof with no predetermined pattern.This type of dyed yarn is commonly known as spaced dyed yarn.

However, because in the aforementioned method of applying dye, thecircumference of the rollers and drums is fixed and, due to the lack ofsuitable pattern control means, the colors are placed on the yarn in apredetermined or fixed manner. Thus, when the yarn is v placed into thefabric in an attempt to produce a random pattern, undesirable patterneffects may appear, such as herringbone or striated effects and thelike. It cannot be said, therefore, that the pattern is truly random innature.

There has also been the problem in the dyeing of bulk type yarns ofretaining the bulk in the yarn during the dyeing process. During thenormal dyeing procedure, which may encompass dyeing, fixing, washing,and drying, bulk yarns tend to lose their bulky characteristic and mustoften be separately treated to restore the bulk. This, of course, istime consuming and increases the cost of dyeingthis type of yarn.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the presentinvention, an apparatus and method are provided wherein yarn is dyed ina truly random fashion and wherein bulk yarns can be continuously dyedwhile retaining the bulk therein without requiring separate treatmentfor replacing lost bulk. ln general, the yarn ends, which initially arepreferably in an undyed state, may be first passed through a dye bath toapply a base color. The yarn ends are then predried to partially fix thebase dye and to prevent dye migration during further processing. Theyarn ends are then passed through a dye station which includes aplurality of banks of individual dye mechanisms with each bankbeingoperative to apply a different color to the yarn. The individual dyemechanisms, which are preferably of the impact or hammer type, areindividually responsive to a control signal for applying a discretelength of dye to the yarn at a position therein dictated by a patterncontrol mechanism. The pattern control mechanism is operativeto generaterandom control signals with substantially no repeat in sequence so thatwhen a yarn end is dyed, there will be no discernable pattern repeat.Thus, when the yarn is used in fabric 1 formation, there is littlelikelihood of any such effects as the herringbone or striated effectappearing in the face of the fabric.

From the dye station, the yarn ends pass through a predryer for removinga substantial amount of moisture therefrom and again for minimizing dyemigration. The

yarn ends are then conducted into a dryer and fixer chamber wherein theywill travel under substantially no tension. It has been found that byeliminating the tension on the yarn ends while acting upon them withsuany excess dye or other substances which may be presv ent on the yarnsuch as carriers or the like. After washing, a finish, such as an'antistatic solution or the like, may be applied and the yarn ends maythen be finally dried. To further ensure that pattern effects will beeliminated in the finished goods, prior to winding, the yarn ends may beconducted through a scrambling apparatus which may further displace theyarn ends, both laterally and longitudinally, from their relativepositions which they assumed upon passing through the apparatus. Theyarn ends can then be wound on beams or other like means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS,

FIG. 1-is a schematic view ofa preferred embodiment of the completedyeing range of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the printing mechanism of the dyeing rangeand taken along line 22 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an end view of the printing mechanism taken in the directionof line 33 of FIGQZ;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the printing mechanism of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the-random pattern generator of thedyeing range;

, FIG. 6 is a front view of another embodiment of a randompatterngenerator mechanism; and

FIG. 6A is an end view of the apparatus of FIG. 6.

DETAILEDDESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring to FIG. 1, a schematicrepresentation of a preferred embodiment of the dyeing range is showntherein and comprises, in general, a dye bath station 10, a predryer 12,a dye station 14, a random pattern generator 16, a second predryer 18, adryer and fixer 20, a wash station 22, a finish applicator 24, a finaldryer 26, a yarn scrambler 28 and a windup station 30. The generaloperation of the dyeing range is as follows.

A plurality of yarnsis provided such as on spools or cones 32 whichyarns are fed through the dye bath station 10 by a driven roll 34. Theyarn on spools 32 which is colorless or having a single base color isdyed at the dye bath station 10 and is then fed under tension to thepredryer station 12. The predrying of the yarns while under tension inthe predryer 12 functions to partially fix the base dye and to preventdye migration. The yarns are fed from the spools through the mechanismin a sheetlike or weblike manner and are under tension at the stagethusfar described. The yarns are fed from the predryer 12 to a dyeingstation 14 where, as will be more apparent hereinafter, they will beindividually printed or dyed by the mechanism of the dye station 14. Inorder to provide a random pattern and to individually control the dyeingof each yarn, a random pattern generator 16 is provided which, as willbe described in greater detail below, provides random control signalsfor operating the dyeing mechanism of the dye station 14. After theyarns are individually dyed, they are again predried in the predryerstation 18 which provides a similar function as the predryer 12. Thepredryers l2 and 18 may be of the infrared type or may also be microwavedryers. From the predryer the yarns are fed to a dryer and fixer station20 wherein they are treated with superheated steam under minimum tensionwhich, in effect, is substantially no tension. The drying and fixing ofthe yarns in this manner provides for relatively rapid fixing of thedyes while maintaining the desired bulk in the yarn without requiringsubsequent treatment for restoring the bulk.

From the dryer and fixing station 20, the yarns are fed to acounterf'low washing station'22 to wash off the excess dye. A finishsolution, such as an antistatic solution, may be applied at theapplicator station 24. However, this stage is optional and has little,if any, effect on the inventive process. The yarns are then fed to afinal dryer station 26 where, again, there is substantially no effectivetension and the yarns are substantially completely dried. Again, thefinal dryer 26 may be of the infrared or microwave type. In order toprovide a further random effect, a yarn scramble station 28 may beprovided, if desired, wherein the yarns may be further scrambled inlongitudinal and lateral relationship. Finally, the yarns may bepreferably wound on beams at a windup station 30 or, alternatively, theyarns may be wound onto cones or the like. A still further random effectmay be provided on winding by starting the windup at different lengthson the yarn ends and by further lateral displacement of the yarnsrelative to one another.

More specifically, the yarn ends Y, only four being shown, are fed fromthe cones 32 by a driven feed roll 34, which is suitably driven by motormeans, not shown. Theyarn ends Y pass through a comb structure 36 in asheetlike manner over idler roll 38 and under idler roll 40 and betweendriven squeeze rolls 42 and 44. The idler roll 40 is supported in atrough 46 which is filled with a dye fluid so that, as the yarns Y passthrough the dye trough 46, they will be impregnated with the dye. Thesqueeze rolls 42 and 44 squeeze the yarns to remove any excess dye fromthe yarns Y which will then be returned to the trough by roll 44 whichis partially suspended in'the trough 46. The squeeze rolls 42 and 44also ensure that the dye penetrates the yarns. The yarns Y are thenpassed into the predryer 12 while under tension wherein they will bepartially dried to preferably about 40 percent of their moisture contentalthough the drying may be in the range of 20 percent to 50 percent.Applying tension to the yarn during this stage of operation has beenfound to distribute the dye evenly along and across the yarn Y withoutaffecting the bulk in the yarn. Such tension can be applied in a knownmanner such as provided by feed rolls (not shown) in the predryer whichoperate at a faster rate of speed than the squeeze rolls .42 and 44. Ithas also been found that predrying to about 40 percent moisture contentbefore allowing the yarn to relax immobilizes the dye so that the yarndyes evenly in the drying and fixing zone and also reduces the timerequired for drying and fixing.

After the yarns have been dyed with a base color and predried, they maythen be fixed and dried, washed and finally dried in the manner of theinvention as will be more fully explained hereinafter and then used informing single colored fabrics or in combination with other yarns forforming color fabrics or in combination with other yarns for formingcolor patterned fabrics. As explained above, the yarns may also be spacedyed in a random fashion for use in random color patterned fabrics. Inorder to carry out this purpose, a dye printing station 14 is providedwhich comprises a frame structure 48, FIGS. 24, which supports dyetroughs 50 and 52 (FIG. 1) which contain therein a dye liquor therebeing a different color dye liquor in each of said troughs 50 and 52. Aswill be apparent, with the dye trough 46, the number of colors that canbe applied to the yarn by the'dye mechanism as thus far described willbe three. It should be understood that the number of colors may bevaried by varying the number of dyeing components to the dye station 14.

A roll 54is'partially immersed in trough 50 and a roll 56 is likewisesupported in trough 52, the said rolls 54 and 56 serving as dye pick-uprolls. Supported in driving frictional contact with the pick-up rolls 54and 56, are lick rolls 58 and 60 which serve to lick the dye from thesurface of their respective rolls 54 and 56 wherein the surfaces ofrolls 58 and 60 will then be coated with dry liquor. The rolls 58 and 60may be driven as by a motor 62, belt or chain 64, shaft 66 with pulleyor sprockets 68 and 70, belt 71, shaft 72 with pulley or sprocket 74(FIG. 3) and belt or chain 76 riding on pulleys or sprockets 78 and 80,supported on the shafts carrying rolls 58 and 60.

In order to impregnate the yarns with the dye liquor, a plurality ofhammerlike devices is provided and each includes a head portion 82carried at the end of a rod 84. The rod 84 is supported in spaced arms86 and 88 of a yokelike support member and has a coil spring 90connected therewith between the arms 86 and 88 in a manner which biasesthe hammer in an upward or nonoperative direction. As can be seen inFIG. 3, the head portion 82 of each hammer printer is relatively wideand therefore each can print a group of yarns passing between anassociated hammer and a roll 58 or 60, as shown in FIG. 1. Supported atthe uppermost portion of the rod 84 is a contact portion 92 which isdisposed for engagement with a contact portion 94 supported at the endof a rod or shaft 96 supported substantially perpendicular to the rod84. The contact portion 94 preferably is in the form of a roll forminimizing friction contact with the contact portion 92 and with a cam98 which comes into contact therewith in a manner to be explained below.

Each rod 96 is constructed in the form of a plunger which is disposed inan air cylinder 100 for reciprocation therein in accordance with thedirection of air pressure supplied to said cylinder A spring (not shown)may be carried in each cylinder 100 for returning the plunger rod 96 toan inoperative position in accordance with changes in the air pressuresource. A manifold 102 is supported on a bracket 104 and has airpressure supplied thereto as through a supply tube 106 in a knownmanner. A tube 108 supplies air pressure from the manifold 102 to asolenoid control valve 110 which may be selectively controlled by therandom pattern generator 16 as will be apparent hereinafter. A tube 112leads from the solenoid control valve 110 to the cylinder 100 foractuating the plunger rod 96 into an operative position when said valve1 10 is actuated. Thus, in accordance with a predetermined controlsignal, the plunger 96 will be actuated into a position below cam 98 andabove contact portion 92 so that, as

the cam rotates, the hammer will be forced downwardly into contactingposition with roll 58 or 60 and press the yarns against said roll wherethe yarn will be impregnated with dye liquor. As will be apparent, theyarns will be pressed against the roll 58 or 60 with substantial forceand it has been found that this hammerlike pressing of the yarn into thedye provides for excellent dye impregnation of the yarn in discreteareas thereof withoutthe yarn running or smearing. When the controlsignal is turned off, the solenoid valve 110 reacts accordingly to cutoff the air pressure from cylinder 100 and the spring in the cylinderand the spring 90 returns their respective members 96 and 94 to theirinoperative positions. As seen in FIG. 4 the cams 98 are supportedon'shaft 111 there being a cam 98 associated with each contact member94. Also, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, there may be groups of hammerprinters spaced laterally across the dye station 14.

Referring now to FIG. 5, the random pattern generator 16 is showntherein and includes a cabinet closure l12.which carries therein a motor114 connected to a' suitable source of power. The motor 114 drives abelt 116 and pulley 118 supported on a shaft 120 which, in turn, haspulleys 122 and 124 supported at its respective ends. The pulleys 122and 124 drive pulleys 126 and 128 carried on independent shafts 130 and132 respectively through belts 134 and 136. As seen in FIG.

5, the pulley 126 is a different size from the pulley 128 so that theshafts 130 and 132 will be driven at different rates of speed.Preferably the shaft 130 is driven six times the rate of speed of shaft132 as will be more fully explained below. A transparent drum 138 issupported for rotation on shaft 130 and a similar transparent drum 140being supported for rotation on shaft 132 with each said drum having anopaque pattern thereon. The pattern is selected and applied to the drumsto correspond with the line of feed of the yarns and the relativeorientation of the dye printing mechanism. A light source 142 isprovided inside each drum 138 and 140 for illuminating the transparentportions of the drums. Photocell devices 144 are positioned above andbelow each drum 138 and 140 in close relationship therewith for readingthe light and opaque portions of the drums as they rotate relative tosaid photocells. It will be apparent, therefore, that, as the drumsrotate relative to the photocell devices, signals will be generated inaccordance with the pattern on the respective drum. The photocells 144have each of the photocell sensors con nected to a solid state circuit146 which is of the logic type and may include AND, OR, EXCLUSIVE OR,etc. electronic circuits which are known in the art. The circuits 146are, in turn, connected to the individual solenoid valves 110, therebeing one such solenoid valve for each hammer printer so that eachsolenoid valve is actuated in accordance with a control signal from therandom pattern generator.

'The principle of operation of the random pattern generator ingenerating random control signals is as follows. Consider two equallength cyclic binary patterns consisting'of ones and zeros anddenominate these patterns A and B. For purposes of this example, let Acycle repeat rate be six times that of B. Taking the first six bits of Acompare these bits with the first-bit of B to produce six bits of agenerated pattern P in accordance with the following basic rules: When Aequals B, P

equals B; when A does not equal B, P equals A. Continuing to use theserules, the second six bits of A are selected to compare with the secondbit of B to generate the second six bits of P. This procedure mustcontinue until the A pattern has been cycled six times for H m cycle onetime. If A and B are random ones and zeros, then P will be a random ornonrepeating pattern with six times the length of A or B. It should beunderstood, however, that the ratio of six to one has been chosenarbitrarily and the same. logic would apply to other ratios. Using theabove logic, a pattern for each drum 138 and can be designed to reducethe logic e to a practically operative random pattern generator.

Alternatively to the transparent drum type pattern, a.

pattern generator such as shown in FIGS. 6 and 6A can be used. A firstdisc 138a having transparent portions or openings 141a adjacent itsperimeter can be provided with the openings being of varying sizes. Asecond disc 140a is positioned adjacent to disc 138a so that its fourprotruding portions or shutters 143a are in overlapping disposition withthe openings 141a. The disc 138a is operable to rotate preferably ata'6-to-1 ratio relative to disc 140a. A light source may again beprovided, as above, with photocell sensors 144a generating signals inaccordance with the light passing through the overlapping discs. In eachcase the theory of operation is the same and results in a theoreticalinfinite repeat of pattern so that it may be said that the patterngenerated is truly random in nature.

Subsequent to the random pattern being printed on the groups of yarns bythe printer 14, the yarns are passed through a predryer 18 undertension. The predryer 18 is similar to the predryer 12 and functions inthe same manner thus producing similar results on the dyed yarns.

Upon leaving the predryer 18 the yarns are pulled by a pair of tensionrolls 148 (FIG. 1). Thus, prior to entering the dryer and fixer 20, theyarn is under tension. The dryer and fixer 20 is essentially in the formofa festoon type steam treatment chamber included in a cabinet 150. Asthe yarn passes therethrough, it is treated by superheated steam in therange of 300 to 500 F. and which, for example in the case of nylon yarnmay be at 350 F. and for .polyester yarn may be 450 F. However, it hasbeen found that by passing the yarns through the chamber 20 with thetension relaxed the bulk can be maintained. In such fields as the carpetfield, high bulk yarns are desirable for producing commerciallydesirable carpets. In most dyeing processes, the high bulk is lost inthe yarn and the yarns must undergo separate treatment to restore thebulk. This separate treatment is time consuming and costly to the yarnproducer and is to be avoided if possible. In accordance with thepresent invention, the bulk is maintained in the yarn in one continuousprocess and there is no need for separate bulk restoring treatment.

As the yarn ends pass through the chamber 150,.they are fed therethroughby a series of rolls, as illustrated. The operation of the rolls is suchthat the roll 152 is operated at a relatively slower speed than thespeed of the tension rolls 148. The roll 154 is, in turn, operated at arelatively lower speed than the roll 152. The remainder of the rolls 154all operate at the same speed as the first roll 154. Therefore, as theyarn ends enter the chamer 150, the festooning effect and the varying ofthe feed is such that the tension is reduced to a point where it may besaid that the yarns are under substantially no tension while being actedon by the superheated steam. It has been found that, by treating theyarn'with superheated steam in a tensionless condition, the fixing ofthe dyes is relatively rapid. Further, when using a predryer incombination with a superheated steam chamber, the fixing time is evenfurther reduced in the magnitude of approximately percent. Dyes havebeen fixed using the above process in as little time as 32 seconds inpassing through the entire fixing chamher.

The yarns are next fed over rolls 156 and 158 into the counterflowwashing station 22. The station 22 includes a plurality of washingtroughs, there being three shown'at 160, 162 and 164. Fresh warm waterat approximately 140 F. is fed into top trough 164 where it is thenoverflowed into trough 162 and 160 respectively. The yarn is first fedthrough squeeze rolls 166 and into trough 160 passing under rolls 168.Suitable washing fluids, such as detergents or other treatment fluidsmay be added to trough 160 to give the yarn its initial washing so thatany excess dyes will be removed. The yarns are then squeezed lightlybetween rolls 170 and fed into trough 162 by rolls 172. The yarn is thenrinsed and squeezed again by squeeze rolls 174. From the rolls 174 theyarn passes over rolls 176 as shown and through the final washing infresh water in trough 164. The yarns are then squeezed relativelyheavily by squeeze rolls 178. All of the rolls 156, 158, 166, 168, 170,172, 174, 176 and 178 are driven at the same speed as rolls 154 so thatthe tensionless condition remains substantially the same through thewashing cycle.

After washing and rinsing, the yarns may be fed by rolls 180, operatingat the same speed as rolls 154, to

the finish applicator 24 where the yarns may be treated while the yarnis being dried. Accordingly, the speed of' the roll 188 is reduced fromthe speed of roll 184 and the speed of rolls 190 is reduced from thespeed of roll 188. After drying, the yarns are fed by rolls 192 and I194 and may then be wound on beams 198 or alternatively fed through ayarn scrambler 28. The yarn scrambler 28 may-include a series of yarnfeed tubes of different length and may be further scrambled according tolateral orientation. By this means a further random effeet can bebrought about but it is not definitely known what, if any, percentageimprovement is brought about over the random printing described above.The yarn scrambler merely provides one further step which may be takento insure a complete random effect. The yarns are then fed by rolls 196onto beams 198. Again a further scrambling of the yarns may be providedby varying the position of the yarns on the beams from that in whichthey left the dryer station 186.

It will be seen from the above description that a novelcontinuous'dyeing process is provided wherein high bulk yarns can berelatively rapidly dyed in a continuous fashion. Further, the proces ofthe invention provides for substantially complete random space dyeing ofyarns so that undesirable pattern effects in the finished fabric areeliminated. The dyeing range of the invention has great versatility inthat the random yarn printing means may be eliminated and the dyeingrange operated for producing one color high bulk dyed yarn in acontinuous manner. Further, the range may be used to random print a widevariety of yarns other than the so-called high bulk type wherein it isdesired to continuously produce a completely random effect in a spaceddyed yarn.

What is claimed is:

l. A continuous dyeing machine for dyeing yarns including means forfeeding a plurality of high bulk yarns through said machine, dyeingmeans for applying a base color to said yarns, means for applyingtension to said yarns, predryer means for removing at least a portion ofthe moisture content from said yarns while said yarns are under tension,dryer and fixer means for fixing the dyes in said yarns in the presenceof superheated steam and including means for reducing the tension insaid yarns such that there is substantially no ef fective tension insaid yarns during drying and fixing, washing means for washing theexcess dye from said yarns, and final drying means for removingsubstantially all of the remaining moisture content from said yarns andalso including means for reducing the tension in said yarns such thatthere is substantially no effective tension in said yarns during finaldrying whereby said yarns can be dyed in a continuous process withoutthe loss of their bulk characteristics.

2. A continuous dyeing machine as recited in claim 1 wherein saidpredryer means is effective for removing 20 to 50 percent of themoisture content from said yarns.

3.- A continuous yarn dyeing machine as recited in claim 1 wherein saidmeans for reducing the tension in said yarns includes a plurality offeed roll means disposed within said dryer and fixer means with thespeed of at least the first and second of said feed roll means relativeto .the direction of yarn travel having their speed of rotationconsecutively reduced for progressively slowing the speed of travel ofsaid yarns in said dryer and fixer means.

4. A continuous yarn dyeing machine as recited in claim 3 wherein thetemperature of said superheated steam is in the range of 300 to 500 F.

5. A'continuous yarn dyeing machine as recited in claim 3 wherein saidmeans for reducing the tension in said yarns includes a plurality offeed roll means with at least the first and second of said feed rollmeans relative to the direction of yarn travel having their speeds ofrotation consecutively reduced for progressively slowing the speed oftravel of said yarns in, said final dryer means.

6. A continous dyeing machine for dyeing yarns including meansfor'feeding said yarns through said machine, means for applying a basecolor to said yarns, first predrying means for removing at least aportion of the moisture from said yarns while under tension, dye stationmeans including a plurality of individually operable dyeing mechanismsfor applying dye to discrete portions of said yarns, random patternmeans for generating random pattern control signals, said random patternmeans being operably connected to each of said dyeing mechanisms forinitiating individual selective actuation of said dyeing mechanisms suchthat a random pattern is applied to said yarns, second predrying meansfor removing at least a portion of the moisture from said yarns, meansfor fixing the dyes in said yarns

1. A continuous dyeing machine for dyeing yarns including means forfeeding a plurality of high bulk yarns through said machine, dyeingmeans for applying a base color to said yarns, means for applyingtension to said yarns, predryer means for removing at least a portion ofthe moisture content from said yarns while said yarns are under tension,dryer and fixer means for fixing the dyes in said yarns in the presenceof superheated steam and including means for reducing the tension insaid yarns such that there is substantially no effective tension in saidyarns during drying and fixing, washing means for washing the excess dyefrom said yarns, and final drying means for removing substantially allof the remaining moisture content from said yarns and also includingmeans for reducing the tension in said yarns such that there issubstantially no effective tension in said yarns during final dryingwhereby said yarns can be dyed in a continuous process without the lossof their bulk characteristics.
 2. A continuous dyeing machine as recitedin claim 1 wherein said predryer means is effective for removing 20 to50 percent of the moisture content from said yarns.
 3. A continuous yarndyeing machine as recited in claim 1 wherein said means for reducing thetension in said yarns includes a plurality of feed roll means disposedwithin said dryer and fixer means with the speed of at least the firstand second of said feed roll means relative to the direction of yarntravel having their speed of rotation consecutively reduced forprogressively slowing the speed of travel of said yarns in said dryerand fixer means.
 4. A continuous yarn dyeing machine as recited in claim3 wherein the temperature of said superheateD steam is in the range of300* to 500* F.
 5. A continuous yarn dyeing machine as recited in claim3 wherein said means for reducing the tension in said yarns includes aplurality of feed roll means with at least the first and second of saidfeed roll means relative to the direction of yarn travel having theirspeeds of rotation consecutively reduced for progressively slowing thespeed of travel of said yarns in said final dryer means.
 6. A continousdyeing machine for dyeing yarns including means for feeding said yarnsthrough said machine, means for applying a base color to said yarns,first predrying means for removing at least a portion of the moisturefrom said yarns while under tension, dye station means including aplurality of individually operable dyeing mechanisms for applying dye todiscrete portions of said yarns, random pattern means for generatingrandom pattern control signals, said random pattern means being operablyconnected to each of said dyeing mechanisms for initiating individualselective actuation of said dyeing mechanisms such that a random patternis applied to said yarns, second predrying means for removing at least aportion of the moisture from said yarns, means for fixing the dyes insaid yarns while in the presence of superheated steam and includingmeans for reducing the tension in yarns to a minimum during the fixingof said dyes, and dryer means for finally drying said yarns while underminimum tension whereby said yarns are completely dyed with a randompattern in a single continuous apparatus.
 7. A continuous dyeing machineas recited in claim 6 wherein said dye station means includes aplurality of hammer printing means with each being disposed for printinga plurality of yarns, roll means disposed for cooperative relationshipwith said hammer printing means and including means for applying acoating of dye to said roll means, and actuating means for selectivelyactuating each said hammer printing means to press said yarns againstsaid roll means for applying dye to said yarns under pressure from saidhammer printing means.
 8. A continuous dyeing machine as recited inclaim 7 wherein said actuating means is responsive to control signalsfrom said random pattern means.